Netflix announces deal for film about Thailand's cave boys

2019-04-30 16:53

Members of the Wild Boars, the soccer team that was rescued from a flooded cave. (AP)

Bangkok — Netflix announced Tuesday it is joining with the
production company for the movie Crazy Rich Asians to make a film about last
July’s dramatic rescue of 12 village boys in northern Thailand who were trapped
with their soccer coach in a flooded cave for more than two weeks.

Netflix and SK Global Entertainment said in Bangkok they
have acquired the rights to the story from 13 Thumluang Co. Ltd, a company that
Thailand’s government helped establish to represent the interests of the boys
and their coach, who attended the news conference for the announcement.

Thailand’s Culture Ministry in March first unveiled the
deal, announced as a miniseries. Deputy government spokesman Weerachon
Sukoondhapatipakat was quoted then as saying that the families of the cave
survivors would each be paid 3 million baht ($94 000).

The boys of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach
became a centre of world attention after they became trapped in the cave on
23 June last year, with doubts they were able to find shelter from rising flood
waters that poured in after unexpected rain. They were found by two British
divers and brought out by an international crew of experienced cave divers who
teamed up with Thai navy SEALs in a dangerously complicated mission that was
successfully concluded on 10 July.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to thank the
people and organisations from Thailand and around the world who came together
to perform a true miracle, by retelling our story," said Ekapol "Ake" Chanthawong, the boy’s assistant coach who shared the ordeal with them.
"We look forward to working with all involved parties to ensure our story
is told accurately, so that the world can recognise, once again, the heroes
that made the rescue operation a success."

Tuesday’s announcement said 13 Thumluang “has committed to
donating 15% of the revenues derived from bringing this story to global
audiences to charity organizations that focus on disaster relief.”

Jon M. Chu, who helmed Crazy Rich Asians, and Nattawut "Baz" Poonpiriya, a Thai filmmaker, will be directors on the cave project.

"We are immensely proud to be able to support the retelling
of the incredible story of the Tham Luang cave rescue," Erika North, director
of International Originals at Netflix, said in a statement. "The story combines
so many unique local and universal themes which connected people from all walks
of life, from all around the world. Thailand is a very important country for
Netflix and we are looking forward to bringing this inspiring local but
globally resonant story of overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds to life,
once again, for global audiences."

The rescue was a rare bit of feel-good news from Thailand,
which has been mired in political conflict and heavy-handed military rule for
more than a decade. The cave rescue also allowed the government of Prime
Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who had seized power in a 2014 military coup, to
share in some glory.

An independent film about the adventure, The Cave, was
shot soon after the rescue and is supposed to be released later this year.